The Heroes Of Calais

At the start of the Hundred Years War, the port of Calais was essential, to English plans. After a conventional invasion failed, King Edward III planned to win the battle by intercepting all provisions going to the French port. This worked so well a proposal was made to save the lives of the people of Calais. Six of the most important people in the city surrendered, wearing only robes, with ropes around their neck for hanging them, carrying the keys to the city. Queen Philippa, in tears, asked the king to save the lives of these people and Edward, probably fearing his wife would experience headaches at night, accepted the request. Auguste Rodin was given the task of creating a monument to these brave souls and in 1895 the fantastic sculpture "Les Bourgeois De Calais" was given to the city. A copy of this is in Victoria Tower Gardens, a small park behind the parliament building, in London. Was the site chosen as a form of apology ?